What swim strokes are you able to do?

I used to be a strong swimmer.
Nowadays, I have just started swimming again twice a week and can only do half a lap at a time!

I can do all strokes which are overarm, butterfly, backstroke, breast stroke though my style leaves much to be desired nowadays!
However I go with a friend who cannot swim and is afraid to put her head in the water, and yesterday I got her to do it slightly, repeatedly! yay

by Finy

Persevere with your swimming Finy. You will get fitter. We found the same thing when we started. Now we are doing around 20 laps per day. Your friend really should take lessons. A instructor will help her overcome her fears

We are only going twice a week Lluxi and dont think that is enough to make me fit?

You should start getting fitter each time you go. We could do more laps each day we went. Just be determined,as each day will make a difference

Finy you inspire me to take up swimming again! I think even twice a week will help to increase fitness. You will gradually be able to swim further and further.

I was taught to do all swimming strokes when I learnt to swim, but I feel most comfortable doing breast stroke. We swim every second day and go to water aerobics. It is a great sport that most people can do. We have a lady in our class who has just returned after having a heart attack. We were very glad to see her. Even just walking in the water is great exercise.

by Lluxi

I'm not sure, I just took to a fish in water, when I use to swim, never got lessons, just watched other's.
But then again I went to the beach just about every single day in 1963-64. I was 10 and had a brilliant time at the beach, no parents just me.
I can save my own life, and also one other...so no idea what I do, just swim, dive etc. :)

by jonaja

bondi? I went every weekend till i was about 18

Coogee.

Jonaj, Did you visit SxS this year, Bondi to Tamarama? i've been to the last 19 of them, as I didn't know about it when it 1st started. (It came of age this year!)

No sorry Miro I didn't sadly :(

I can do the panic and drown. We actually had a swimming pool built at one house but I was terrified of it. I have tried over the years to have lessons but have discovered that I can do the strokes as long as I am in three feet of water. . . . .as soon as I get out of my depth I am a basket case. It seems they can teach me the strokes but can't teach me to lose my fear. Can't be bothered any more - too stressful.

by Rice

my friend is the same as you but I will teach her!

Good for you, Finy!! I hope you succeed. I'll stay dry.

Just the crawl and breast stroke although I rarely set foot inside a swimming centre nowadays. When I had my radical hip resurfacing done years ago, I was in a heated pool every day, being lowered in via a manually operated chair lift the attendant used to get me into the water. I didn't swim, just walking up and down for an hour and set exercises the hospital physio gave me. I'm really not that close to a pool nowadays that has provision to walk into the water.

by helga

I learnt to swim when I was a kid, but I don't bother going in the water now. I can only swim overarm & breaststroke. An older friend & I used to go to our local council pool once or twice a week for a short time. I was swimming 1k, which I think was 10 laps! A very big deal for me!

by Miro

I used to swim a lot as a child and young woman. I could do all the strokes even butterfly which I thought was a huge waste of energy. If I saw water I wanted to swim. Unfortunately my ears aren't designed for this. I have problems with ear infections and this has put me off. I am told that there are some very good ear plugs and preventative drops on the market now. So I just need to get over myself, take my courage in my hands- because I ain't a pretty sight, and get back in the pool.

by annfi

It's lucky i can't swim or Greenpeace would be there trying to push me back out to sea . . !

Rice you are hard on yourself.

I'll give them all a go but I prefer to just have fun in the water

by Belinda

I can swim but I can't swim properly

by AJ